Sarkeys Origin

Born in Lebanon in 1874, Sarkeys J. Sarkeys was the son of a well-to-do olive farmer. Inspired by the opportunities described by his two brothers living in St. Louis Sarkeys came to America when he was only 17 years old.

Upon his arrival in St. Louis, Sarkeys joined his brothers in selling a new invention, the carbide lamp. Traveling by horse and buggy, Sarkeys canvassed the area, determined to make a living. Eventually, however, he decided that the best opportunities for lamp sales existed in South America. Driven by a tenacious desire to make his fortune, Sarkeys began a circuitous route there.

He traveled through Cushing, Oklahoma, where he watched an oil well come in. The lure of oil money and the excitement of the business captivated him, although he had no formal training in geology or petroleum engineering. Oklahoma quickly became home, where Sarkeys would exchange his career in selling lamps for a more lucrative career in selling oil and gas leases, acquiring mineral rights along the way. The successful production from these holdings became the basis for several fortunes Sarkeys would gain and lose during his lifetime.

In 1962, Sarkeys J. Sarkeys had a vision to create a better state by establishing a foundation to award grants to nonprofits equally committed to improving the quality of life in Oklahoma. More than 50 years later, the trustees and staff of Sarkeys Foundation further that commitment by providing free conference facilities, nonprofit grants, board retreats, and more to hundreds of charitable and nonprofit organizations.

When he died in 1965 at 92, the Sarkeys Foundation was just three years old, established with 2,750 shares of stock from Sarkeys, Inc. By the time of Sarkeys’ death, the Foundation had more contributions of about $14,000. Since then, the foundation has awarded over $80 million in grants.

Governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees, the foundation that bears SJ Sarkeys' name is deeply committed to furthering his vision to improve the quality of life in Oklahoma. With approximately $100 million in assets, Sarkeys Foundation provides grants to diverse nonprofit organizations and institutions, almost all of which are located in Oklahoma.